Desire God's Best

 Desire God's Best

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 3:13-26

Focus Verses:  Proverbs 3:13-18  “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding, for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.  She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.”

What do people chase after most in this world?  Money, power, fame, comfort, success?  Some people desire a home, a family, a good job to be able to meet their obligations.  These are all human desires.  Jesus did not die on the cross to give us possessions or popularity, or a comfortable life.  Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10.  The things of this world cannot give you an abundant life.  The things of this world eventually will bring you disappointment.  Your investment of money can fail to give you a return.  Your friend that was once loyal to you can turn against you.  The job that you enjoyed so much has not given you a promotion like you anticipated.

There is only one desire that will never fail you.  That is to know God intimately through His Word and prayer.  Your investment in time with God will always give you a return more than you thought.  God will never turn against you.  He will always be a trusted friend.  God has a promotion for you one day when you reach heaven that will be unlike anything you have ever seen.  So don’t desire the cheap imitation that the world offers.  Instead desire what God offers.  The rewards will last forever.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Love a Neighbor

Love a Neighbor

Bible Reading:  Matthew 25:31-46

Focus Verse: "“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" Matthew 25: 37-40

Jesus was clear in his teaching to care for others who are struggling with sickness and physical needs.  We may find that the needs are great around us and feel like we can't do much.  Jesus didn't say that we should solve all of their problems, but that there is something, even something small, that we can do.  Anyone can give a drink to someone or visit someone who is sick.  How difficult is it to give a shirt or dress to someone whose clothes are torn and tattered.  If you don't have something, maybe you can ask some friends to help you to get some clothes for someone in need.  

I went to visit a sick friend.  I was able to help her with a few things at her home, care for her, and then shared a Bible reading and prayer with her.  She was so encouraged and thanked me many times for coming.  When you help someone, the Holy Spirit confirms in your heart that you are doing something good.  You know that is a good feeling.  It is good to join others in their time of suffering and need.  When you join together as a community to help others, then it strengthens the community. 

My prayer is that God will show me where to help someone each day.  May God be glorified in any effort of care that I show to someone today.  May we work together showing the care that would cause Jesus to be pleased.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Extra reading: portrayals of many good Samaritans in Luke 17:11-19; Acts 8:5-7; 15:3, as well as John 4:4-42

Don’t Be Surprised By Suffering

Don’t Be Surprised By Suffering

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Focus Verses: 1 Peter 4:12-13   " Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.  Instead, be very glad for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world."

 

Peter tells us not to be surprised if we go through suffering.  Everyone on earth will go through some kind of suffering.  This is a fallen world and things are broken here. But Peter says we can be glad when trials come our way.  It sounds really strange that we can be glad when we are suffering. Peter then says that because of our suffering we can be joyful because one day we will see God’s glory.

The world has seen in the news that Kenya has suffered greatly with flooding rains.  Many people have lost their homes and all their possessions, and some have even lost loved ones.  I have seen videos of streets that I walked on just a few months ago that look like a raging river.  It is very sad to see people's belongings just being washed away.

So why do bad things like this happen? My answer is, I don’t know.  But I do know that God is good all the time.  And God is in control all the time.  God always has a plan.  God has never has to say "oops". God never makes mistakes. Nothing happens to us that God doesn’t allow for the good even if we can't see it at the time.  Remember that the worst thing to happen in the history of the world was when Jesus was tortured, crucified and killed on the cross.  But God turned that bad event into the best thing that ever happened in the history of the world.  Jesus went to the cross to save the whole world from their sins. But for only those that would repent and accept this forgiveness by faith.  So don’t be surprised the next time you are going through a difficulty, God is up to something.  He is working out His perfect plan for you.  And He is there to help us through any difficulty.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Why Do We Suffer?

Scripture Reading: Job 1

Focus Verses: "Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. ² And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

³ Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him."   John 9:1-3

When God created the first man and woman, and put them in the Garden of Eden, it was a perfect environment without troubles or sin.  Some day in the future, Jesus is going to take every believer to heaven where there will be no more sorrow or pain.  Heaven will be a perfect environment just like in the beginning.  But where are we now?  We are in this middle period of time when our human nature of sin and Satan, with his demons, are trying to take control of this earth.  This period of sin, trials, suffering, and tribulation is actually brought on by our own disobedience of God.

The Bible has a lot to say about suffering.  We read that God can work His will for our lives through our suffering.  When I think of suffering in the Bible the first name that comes to my mind is Job.  We see that even though everything was taken from Job he did not turn his back on God.  Job 1:22 "In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong."  James even says we should be joyful when we have trials.  James 1:2-4  "My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. "  We know that when hard times come God is just getting us ready for eternity.  Suffering will either make us bitter or better.

Sometimes suffering is because of our own mistakes or choices.  Sometimes it is because of someone else's choice.  But other times, it is just because of the natural ways of this world.  The Bible tells us that we will have trouble. Jesus said,  "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

In our focus verses today Jesus said that suffering is allowed so that the power of God can be seen in our lives.  All of us will go through suffering at some point in our lives.  Some of us will go through more than others.  I don't have a good answer for why a child dies.  Or why do wars happen.  Or why does someone go through great financial loss.  But I do know that God loves His children and not one of them is lost.   You have so much to look forward to if you are a child of God.  Pray that your suffering will make you better.  

Romans 8:18  "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will give us later."

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Are You Compromising?

Scripture Reading: Daniel 1

Focus Verse: Daniel 1:8  "But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king.  He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods."

Daniel decided in his heart that he would not eat the King's food and wine.  It may be because the food wasn't in line with Jewish food laws.  However, his decision meant that he could have been put to death for not eating the food offered to him by the king.  But he decided even if it meant death he would not compromise, and he would stay true to God. 

Every day we are faced with decisions to compromise or to not compromise with God's standards.  We live in a land where many do not honor God.  As Christians we must decide, "will I compromise my purity?  Will I compromise my integrity?  Will I compromise my lifestyle?"  What kind of price do we pay for compromising these things in our life?  

Do you compromise your beliefs for gain?  Are you willing to be dishonest to gain financially?  Satan will tempt you into thinking that this is okay.  Satan will say "after all you need to feed your family and provide for them.  But God can certainly provide for your family without you cheating and stealing to gain. 

Don't compromise your Christian character and testimony by listening to Satan's lies.  I hope we can all stand before God one day knowing that we have not compromised our beliefs to gain something that we can't keep anyway. 

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries